Almaty, 7 January 2005 (RFE/RL) -- A Kazakh court yesterday authorized the liquidation of an opposition party, the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan.

Interfax reported that an Almaty court upheld the arguments of prosecutors who had requested that the party be closed down. The prosecutor's office in Almaty filed suit against the party saying that a recent political statement by the party had breached national security laws.

The Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan accused the prosecutor's office of attempting to liquidate the party for political reasons. The prosecutor's office denies the charge.